Fans pay tribute to Tim Cahill, first Socceroo to play four World Cups

Tim Cahill has thanked fans after they paid tribute to his work over the past 12 years, playing in four World Cup tournaments for Australia.

Fans "thank Timmy" for achieving the milestone of four World Cup. Source: Getty Images Europe

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Fans are paying tribute to the work of Tim Cahill in his fourth World Cup, calling it the end of an era.  

Cahill is the first Socceroos player to play in four World Cups and only the third Australian to feature in four World Cup tournaments.

Cheryl Salisbury and Melissa Barbieri also notched up the same number of tournaments.

World Cup organisers called it an “awesome achievement”.

No player has scored more goals for Australia, delivering on five of Australia’s 13 World Cup goals.

To cheers from Australian fans, Cahill came on as a second-half substitute during the match against Peru but it was not enough to claw back the lead. 

Cahill’s inclusion in the World Cup squad raised a few eyebrows, as the 38-year-old had only played 63 minutes of football during his time with English football club Millwall.

Australian fans said Cahill’s number four jersey has figured in many of the memorable football moments of Australia’s on the world’s stage.

Other fans could not let the occasion pass without paying tribute to Cahill and his commitment over the past 12 years. 

Cahill returned the gesture, posting a message of thanks on Twitter. 

“THANK YOU AUSTRALIA and all the fans…it means so much to all the players,” he wrote. 

Socceroos great John Aloisi said he believed Tim Cahill’s time playing for the national team is at an end.

“I don’t see Timmy playing on for the national team,” he said on Optus Sport.

“Maybe (he’ll play) one or two games or a farewell game. But I don’t see him going on to the Asian Cup.”

Fans reel from defeat

Absorbing news of the Socceroos’ 2-0 loss, it did not take long for the post-mortems to roll in.

These fans were keen to see the positives in Australia’s World Cup campaign.

Overnight, 1.5 million Australians watched the Socceroos-Peru game on SBS.